Setback for ‘Black African League’ plan

Press, 23 August 1984, Page 20

Setback for ‘Black African League’ plan

From

VICTOR NDOVI,

in London

The ambition of President Mobutu of Zaire to become Black Africa’s leading spokesman has suffered a distinct setback. While visiting the West African State of Senegal last June, President Mobutu proposed the formation of a League of Black African States, on the lines of the Arab League. It would neither “replace nor oppose” the Organisation of African Unity, but would ensure that Black Africa had a larger voice within it. The point, he says, is that the O.A.U. has been paralysed by “imported” problems, such as the Western Sahara and Chad, which are really Arab and not Black African matters. In advocating the new organisation, President Mobutu had looked for special support from Senegal, the former President of which,

Leopold Senghor, had enunciated, through poetry, the concept of “Negritude.” President Mobutu saw this as in line with his own pursuit of “African authenticity” to replace cultural and psychological colonisation of African countries. Now, however, President Mobutu says that he has received an unenthusiastic response from Senegal over his proposed new Black African League. Part of the difficulty is that Senegal is a predominantly Muslim nation, which belongs to the Islamic Conference Organisation of which many Arab and Muslim countries, in and outside Africa, are members. Zaire, on the other hand, is one of the only two African countries that have renewed diplomatic relations with Israel. Zaire opened an embassy at Tel Aviv in 1982. In

retaliation, Saudi Arabia and Oman broke off diplomatic relations with Zaire and Arab aid — worth some $36.8 million in 1981 — was cut off. Senegal, following the general policies of the Islamic Conference Organisation, has continued to distance itself from Israel. In spite of setbacks, President Mobutu continues to be the leading exponent of political “Negritude.” The concept focuses on reviving indigenous African methods of handling conflicts. He has a five year agreement with Israel to modernise his armed forces. Zaire is buying $8 million worth of military equipment from Israel for the Presidential Guard, which is drawn mainly from President Mobutu’s home region. — Copyright, London Observer Service.